Category: News

Please note that a new information sheet as been posted: Asbestos-containing pipes in municipal underground works projects. The network of asbestos-containing pipes in B.C. is aging or failing. As a result, it is being replaced over time. Municipalities, contractors working on municipal projects, and other…

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In the fall of 2018 the CCGA released Best Practices Version 3.0. This includes updates developed through regional and stakeholder consensus. This is a continuation of the significant goal of the harmonized Best Practices Version 1.0 released in 2014 and Version 2.0 released in 2016.…

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CATT is conducting a survey is to better understand the current state of Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) practices, barriers, and acceptance across Canada. Knowledge and information gained through this survey will: (1) establish the industry baseline with respect to SUE knowledge, application, usage, barriers, and…

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The Centre for Advancement of Trenchless Technologies (CATT), Benjamin Media, and NASTT-BC are pleased to announce that the deadline for submission of Abstracts and Presentations for the 2019 Trenchless Technology Road Show in Richmond/Vancouver, BC, May 6-8, 2019, has been extended to November 23rd. Have you submitted your abstract?…

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Reporting damages into the Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) is critical for the CCGA to determine the root causes of those damages and develop mitigating measures to reduce and eliminate them. As of 2015, only four Regional Partners are entering damage data into DIRT and…

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It’s that time of year again, with the 13th Annual Bridging the Gap Construction Safety Conference happening October 25/26 in Vancouver. This year’s conference theme…Preparing for Tomorrow…The Future of Health & Safety in Construction. We kick things off with keynote speaker Terry O’Reilly, of CBC’s…

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As you may have seen in the media, a natural gas transmission pipeline north of Prince George has been ruptured. This pipeline feeds our system. Please see our service update for the most recent information, and please share the message below with your communities: FortisBC…

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Trenchless Technology Canada | Harry Dickinson | Summer 2018 Everyone has heard “Safety is no accident” and I recently attended a seminar on Critical Safety Thinking by an international guest speaker David Fennell, CRSP. This event was sponsored by Canadian Society of Safety Engineering Thompson…

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Be a Part of Canada’s Unified Damage Prevention Movement This event that attracts members from the many Canadian organizations and associations who share the responsibility of damage prevention and public safety solutions. This is an excellent opportunity to network with peers across Canada and share knowledge and…

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The CGA 811 Excavation Safety Conference & Expo is the premiere international event dedicated to providing educational content and resources to help protect buried assets. The Conference is the largest event in the underground damage prevention industry, drawing nearly 1,700 participants and offering 80+ hours…

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Natural Resources Canada and the National Energy Board will soon be seeking public comments to help inform the approach to developing two new regulations and making amendments to an existing regulation to support the government’s proposed Canadian Energy Regulator Act (CER Act). A Public Notice…

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The sixth annual CCGA Damage Prevention Symposium is in Whistler, BC from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1. Come and be a part of Canada’s unified voice on damage prevention! For more information and to register, visit CanadianCGA.com. See our new Video!

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Please be advised that we have moved the BCCGA Board meeting to Whistler on Monday, October 29th from noon until 3 pm with lunch included. We will also have a one hour Communications and Education Committee meeting from 10 to 11 am and a Pipeline Safety…

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It’s that time of year again! Don your finest suits, dresses and head toppers (or just wear shorts!) and join us on Friday, August 10th at the Hastings Race Course for our 3rd Annual Racing for Safety Social Event… …which will, undoubtedly, include Beer (for Safety).…

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Applications Now Open for New BC Ground Disturbance Standard We are pleased to announce that we are accepting applications to access our Ground Disturbance 201 Standard (British Columbia). Training providers in British Columbia who are looking for endorsement to the new BCCGA Ground Disturbance 201 Standard…

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News release June 21, 2018 – Gatineau, Quebec – Government of Canada The Government of Canada is committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety for construction workers, Canadians and our federal public infrastructure. Today, Steven MacKinnon, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services…

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As you’ve heard, BC One Call, Alberta One-Call, and ClickBeforeYouDigMB (Manitoba), are cutting over to PelicanCorp software later this year. All provinces are inviting damage prevention stakeholders to keep informed of developments and our collective pathway to a successful November 30th cutover by following the www.BeforeYouDigPartners.com…

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April 28 has been designated the national Day of Mourning, a time when we all come together to remember those who have lost their lives due to work-related incidents or occupational diseases. Last year 158 workers died as a result of their work. Sadly, in…

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Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 25th, 2018 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at: BC Hydro – Presentation Centre 333 Dunsmuir Street Vancouver, BC The Agenda and minutes from last year are available for your reference. The agenda includes a list of Stakeholder…

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April is HERE! Help us to promote DigSafe Month…. April is once again National DigSafe Month, the time of year when all Common Ground Alliance stakeholders come together to communicate how important it is that professionals and homeowners call before they dig and follow the safe digging process to help…

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Bill S-229 has not been yet passed First Reading; however, the bill and its contents remains very much in play. The CCGA Executive Director, Mike Sullivan, continues to meet with all departments and Ministries that would be affected by the Bill – Pubic Services &…

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Today’s Lythism –> How can we possibly seek to understand ‘safety’ at work if we don’t know anything about the psychology of risk or how people’s minds work? Please share this opportunity with your colleagues, members and anyone else you think might be interested or could…

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In partnership with WorkSafeBC, please join BCCSA on Thursday, April 19th at Trev Deeley Motorcycles for their Occupational Disease Symposium for a full day of learning from industry professionals on a variety of topics, including: Asbestos, Sun, Lead and more. Full- buffet breakfast and lunch…

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Liberals say they will also announce new protections for oceans, lakes and rivers By John Paul Tasker, CBC News | Posted: Feb 08, 2018 4:00 AM ET The federal Liberal government says it will streamline the approval process for major natural resources projects, scrapping the National Energy Board…

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The S-229 microsite promoting bill S-229, and QUICK electronic process for any Canadian to show their support to their Member of Parliament, is now LIVE – www.icandigsafe.ca and it’s EASY! To date we only have 25 letters….please support this very important federal legislation. Do you…

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Please be advised that our next Member and Board Meetings will be held on January 31, 2018 from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm in the BC Hydro offices at 333 Dunsmuir Street in Vancouver. The agenda for the day is attached. YOU MUST RSVP to cheryl@commongroundbc.ca if you…

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Kwantlen Polytechnic University will be offering the 3 day BCCGA Utility Locator Specialist course in Cloverdale! $550+GST/per Student and seats are filling up fast! Course details can be found on the KPU web page –> http://www.kpu.ca/cps/wastewater/safety-courses If you are interested please register at the KPU website at:http://www.kpu.ca/cps/wastewater/registration Or contact Ron at ronald.enns@kpu.ca or…

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One of the CCGA’s objectives over the past 18 months has been to participate on the CSA Z663 Technical Committee for the development of a CSA Z663 – Land Use Planning in the Vicinity of Pipeline Systems. This Standard’s history dates back to a document…

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We are once again pleased to submit this year’s ‘BCCGA Report To Members’ on behalf of our Board of Directors. This report provides a summary of the main successes that have taken place throughout the 2017 calendar year in relation to our new strategic priorities.…

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Kwantlen Polytechnic University will be offering the 3 day BCCGA Utility Locator Specialist course in Kelowna! $550+GST/per Student and seats are filling up fast! Course details can be found on the KPU web page: http://www.kpu.ca/cps/wastewater/safety-courses If you are interested please register at the KPU website at: http://www.kpu.ca/cps/wastewater/registration Or contact Ron at ronald.enns@kpu.ca or…

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British Columbians are at serious risk when underground infrastructure such as buried gas lines, pipelines or hydro lines are struck or damaged because building contractors, homeowners and other excavators are not aware of the lines’ precise locations before digging. In BC, there are over 2,000…

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Join us for the last BCCGA Social of the year at the Vancouver Christmas Market! Wander the market’s winding alleys and discover authentic German delicacies: sizzling sausages, warming Glühwein (mulled wine), old world confections, and 75 other food and craft huts. Tuesday, December 12, 2017…

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Please be advised that our next Member and Board Meetings will be held on October 26, 2017 from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm in the BC Hydro offices at 333 Dunsmuir Street in Vancouver. The agenda for the day is attached. YOU MUST RSVP to cheryl@commongroundbc.ca if you…

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The 12th Annual “Bridging the Gap”Construction Safety Conference & Trade Show will be at the Italian Cultural Centre on October 26th and 27th. Learn about: Health and Safety From the WorkSafe BC Board of Directors Perspective COCA – Purpose and current initiatives Determining OHS Related Priorities Leveraging your…

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The National Energy Board (NEB) has issued a new guidance document – Damage Prevention Guidance for Municipal Operations and Maintenance Activities. The NEB – Press Release is available. The new guidance document is posted on the NEB website in the Safety and Environment tab, in the Damage…

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WorkSafeBC has produced a new safety resource about constructing pipelines that may be of interest to your audiences. The Pipeline Construction Inspection Guide is aimed at helping employers, owners and workers understand the key health and safety requirements for pipeline construction operations. Alongside a glossary of…

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For companies who disturb the ground in any way, our BC Ground Disturbance Seminar is important. We all want to stop hits on underground infrastructure and keep you, the public and the environment safe. Register for our upcoming Workshops: Thursday November 23, 2017 ~ Ramada Hotel, Kelowna…

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The Capital Region Board is hosting a Regional Energy Corridors Forum for those involved in the planning, siting, acquisition and implementation of energy corridors in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region. Check out the Save the Date Energy Corridors Stakeholders Forum attachment and mark your calendars for January…

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Event Start: September 19, 2017 Event End: September 21, 2017 Location: Delta Hotels Ottawa City Centre, Ottawa, Ontario Be a part of Canada’s unified damage prevention voice at this event that attracts members from the many Canadian organizations and associations who share the…

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Don your finest suits, dresses and head toppers (or just wear shorts!) and join us on Friday, August 18th at the Hastings Race Course for our first ever Racing for Safety Social Event… …which will, undoubtedly, include Beer (for Safety). Friday Nights at Hastings includes Live…

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Centre for Advancement of Trenchless Technologies (CATT), Benjamin Media Inc. (BMI) and North American Society of Trenchless Technology BC Chapter (NASTT BC) are pleased to announce the 2017 Trenchless Technology Road Show. The event will take place on September 25-27, 2017 in Richmond, BC at…

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Feedback being sought by the LMG on a one-page infographic – Draft Infographic. The NEB is developing a one page infographic to help explain key components of the Damage Prevention Regulations. Before publishing the document, they would appreciate your feedback on the attached draft. All…

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One of the hurdles faced in the effective damage prevention quest is the ability to enforce and penalize. The CCGA’s damage prevention white paper acknowledges the critical importance of effective enforcement in the overall damage prevention process. Getting there, however, is an ongoing challenge. This tragic…

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Please be advised that our next Member and Board Meetings will be held on June 21, 2017 from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm in the BC Hydro offices at 333 Dunsmuir Street in Vancouver. The agenda for the day is attached (fixed the link). YOU MUST RSVP to cheryl@commongroundbc.ca…

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Selfie with a Grey Cup happening this Saturday!!! Join us on location to cheer for safe excavation with the Grey Cup! GardenWorks at 6250 Lougheed Highway, Burnaby 11 am to 3 pm Make sure to stop by GardenWorks, where FortisBC and BC One Call…

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The Betty Spalton Trust Fund was established in 1999 to provide financial support to individuals obtaining educations in the fields associated with the road building and heavy construction industries. As one of the goals of this fund is to encourage diversity in the industry, preference…

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The Senate of Canada voted last week to adopt Bill S-229, An Act respecting underground infrastructure safety, on Tuesday, May 2, 2017 following its third reading. The bill, which was introduced by Senator Grant Mitchell in September, will now proceed to the House of Commons where, if…

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Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 26th, 2017 from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm at: BC Hydro – Presentation Centre 333 Dunsmuir Street Vancouver, BC The Agenda and Minutes from last year are available for your reference. The agenda includes a list of Stakeholder Seats…

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CEPA Tree Planting Event-Port Coquitlam The Damage Prevention and Public Awareness Work Group have sponsored Trees Canada, which has selected five locations across Canada to plant 1,250 trees. At each tree planting location, member companies will invite employees to help plant trees. Please share these invitations…

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The National Energy Board (NEB) is launching a one-year pilot program to make a key safety standard, known as CSA Z662 – Oil and Gas Pipeline Systems (CSA Z662), available online to the public free of charge. CSA Z662 is incorporated by reference in the National Energy Board…

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The BCCGA Utility Locator Specialist course will be running in Kamloops at Thompson Rivers University (TRU). Kwantlen Polytechnic University, with permission from BCCGA, is running the ULS course and there are 5 spots left. For more information or if you know someone who would like to take…

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For companies who disturb the ground in any way, our BC Ground Disturbance Seminar is important. We all want to stop hits on underground infrastructure and keep you, the public and the environment safe. Register for our upcoming Workshops: Tuesday, February 28nd, Saanich Fairground –> Saanich Postcard…

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The Alberta Common Ground Alliance is hosting their Dig Safe Events in Red Deer, Alberta on April 3 and 4th. Day 1: Supervisory Level Ground Disturbance Training Day 2: Dig Safe Conference Theme: Prioritizing Safety in Challenging Times For more information and to register visit:…

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The BCCGA has been working with our stakeholders, the public, the provincial government, and our common ground alliance partners to protect the health and safety of our workers as well as the environment. We have been working closely with our elected officials, at all levels,…

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Please be advised that our next Member and Board Meetings will be held on February 8, 2017 from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm in the BC Hydro offices at 333 Dunsmuir Street in Vancouver. The agenda for the day is attached. We will be reviewing our Strategic Priorities…

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We are once again pleased to submit this year’s ‘BCCGA Report to our Members and Partners’ on behalf of our Board of Directors. This report provides a summary of the main successes that have taken place throughout the 2016 calendar year in relation to our…

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Burnaby, BC, December 8, 2016– The BC One Call (BCOC) Board of Directors issued an RFP for a contact centre services provider in June 2016 and is very pleased to advise they have awarded the contract to Alberta One Call (AOC) October 7, 2016. BCOC…

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Bill S-229 has moved to the Committee stage! It will now be studied by the Senate Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee. Senator Richard Neufeld’s made a speech in support of Bill S-229. –> http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/Sen/Chamber/421/Debates/083db_2016-12-06-e.htm#43

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Webinar on BCIT Computing Student Projects – How to Get Students Working for You? Thursday, November 24, 2016 – 11:00 – 11:45 am PST Think you might have a good IT or software development project for BCIT Computing students and want to learn more about…

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Senator Mitchell rose in the Senate October 4, 2016 and moved the second reading of Bill S-229. Click Here to read his speech. You can read more about information about the status of the bill from the Canadian Common Ground Alliance. Click Here to read a recent…

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Kwantlen Polytechnic University will be offering the 3 day BCCGA Utility Locator Specialist course this November 15, 16 & 17 at KPU Tech 5500 – 180th Street, Surrey, BC. $550+GST/per Student and seats are filling up fast! Course details can be found on the KPU web page; http://www.kpu.ca/cps/wastewater/safety-courses http://www.kpu.ca/cps/wastewater/scheduled-courses…

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Kwantlen Polytechnic University will be offering the 3 day BCCGA Utility Locator Specialist course this November 15,16 & 17 at KPU Tech 5500 – 180th Street, Surrey, BC. Course details can be found on the EOCP web link at: http://www.trainingregistry.eocp.ca/get/showCourseDetails.php?CourseNum=8240 If you are interested please register at the…

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The Canadian Common Ground Alliance harmonized Best Practices version 2.0 was launched at the CCGA Damage Prevention Symposium on October 19th. We will be getting a limited number of printed copies, but if you are interested in an electronic version, click here!

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2015 Gas Code Training is available through BC Safety Authority (BCSA) this Fall. There are 3 options to choose from: 1. Online videos Cost: Free Available through BCSA’s Online Learning Centre (learn.safetyauthority.ca) end of September Video Features: Choose which modules to watch, or watch them…

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Please click THIS LINK to read Senator Mitchell’s speech delivered this past Tuesday in the Senate. BCCGA will be hosting a forum with Senator Mitchell and Mike Sullivan from the Canadian CGA onOctober 12th in Vancouver at the Morris J. Wosk Centre of Dialogue, Room 420 at 580 W Hastings…

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Congratulations to the Integrated Water Services division at the Capital Regional District for winning the City of Excellence Gold Standard award for the second year in a row. This group of workers has ensured worker and public safety through excellent ground disturbance practices in and…

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Following several months of review with stakeholders, including a transparent comment period in early 2016, the Underground Infrastructure Safety Enhancement Act was tabled by Senator Grant Mitchell in the Senate on September 29, 2016. BCCGA will be hosting a forum with Senator Mitchell and Mike Sullivan…

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Please be advised that our next Member and Board Meetings will be held on October 12, 2016 from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm in the Morris J. Wosk Centre of Dialogue, Room 420 at 580 W Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V6B 1L6. The agenda for the day is attached. From…

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The Western Canada 2015 Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) Report provides detailed analyses and recommendations pertaining to the submitted buried asset damage event reports in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. DIRT is the result of the efforts of the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) to gather…

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The CCGA Damage Prevention Symposium is less than 2 months away….Register Now! The Fourth Annual Canadian Common Ground Alliance Damage Prevention Symposium will return to beautiful Banff, Alberta, October 18-20, 2016, including a keynote address by Rex Murphy! This event will focus on critical issues…

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Independent Contractors and Businesses Association of BC and Kwantlen Polytechnic University are hosting the next Utility Locator Specialist Course. The first responsibility of anyone involved in ground disturbance projects is to locate and mark the location of buried pipes, cables, etc. BC’s extensive underground utility…

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Your Opinion Matters! The National Energy Board has brought new Damage Prevention Regulations into law and are asking Canadians for input into the engagement strategies that would be the best ways to reach relevant parties about these new Regulations. As part of these efforts, the…

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Don your finest suits, dresses and head toppers (or just wear shorts!) and join us on Friday, August 26th at the Hastings Race Course for our first ever Racing for Safety Social Event… …which will, undoubtedly, include Beer (for Safety). Friday Nights at Hastings includes Live…

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CSA Group will be developing a standard on Land Use Planning for Pipelines starting this fall and is outreaching to all stakeholders to gauge interest in participating on a new CSA Committee. A CSA workshop was held on May 26, 2016, to discuss this topic…

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The summer 2016 edition of the Damage Prevention Professional (DPP), with a bunch of Canadian content, is now available. The following Canadian articles appear in the DPP: Federal One Call Legislation – a Step towards New Provincial Legislation (BC focused article) A half-page advertisement for…

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Please note for your calendars –> we have invited Senator Mitchell to our October meeting and he is not available on October 5th so we have moved the meeting to October 12th. Location will be determined.

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Event Start: October 18, 2016 Event End: October 20, 2016 Location: Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Banff, Alberta This event will focus on critical issues specific to Canadian stakeholders. This is an excellent opportunity to network with your peers from across Canada and share…

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The Government of Canada has set up a Ministerial Panel to hear from Canadians on the Trans Mountain Expansion Project. As part of these engagement efforts, the Government of Canada has launched an online questionnaire for Canadians to submit their feedback on the project. The…

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BC One Call Limited is a not-for-profit corporation established for the purposes of increasing public and worker safety, and reducing damage to underground infrastructure within the province of British Columbia. BC One Call is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to obtain a contact centre operator that will be…

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As of 19 June 2016 the National Energy Board Pipeline Crossing Regulations, Parts I & II are repealed and are replaced by the National Energy Board Regulations for Pipeline Damage Prevention which come into force on 19 June 2016. Please find attached the following documents:…

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Please be advised that our next Member and Board Meetings will be held on June 22, 2016 from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm in the BC Hydro offices at 333 Dunsmuir Street in Vancouver. The agenda for the day is attached. We have two special presentations ~ Bryce…

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BC Safety Authority’s 2015 Annual Report has been published, and we invite you to have a read. This report provides an overview of BCSA’s operational and financial performance in relation to targets set in the organization’s 2016-2018 Business Plan and in alignment with BCSA’s 10-Year…

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The BCCGA Utility Locator Specialist course will be running on June 8, 9 & 10th in Kamloops at Thompson Rivers University (TRU). Kwantlen Polytechnic University, with permission from BCCGA, is running the 3 day ULS course and there are a few spots left. For more information or…

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The BCCGA Utility Locator Specialist course will be running on June 8, 9 & 10th in Kamloops (Location TBA). Kwantlen Polytechnic University, with permission from BCCGA, is running the ULS course and there are 7 spots left. For more information or if you know someone who would like…

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Data informs nearly every aspect of BCCGA’s operations and industry recommendations. From the formation and publication of our Best Practices manual to public awareness efforts, BCCGA’s Data Reporting & Evaluation program touches every aspect of damage prevention. The program collects critical information, allows us to…

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We are pleased to share with you the BC Safety Authority’s 2015 State of Safety Report, a comprehensive overview of BCSA’s activities and information analysis, including data on installation and operating assessments, incident investigations, as well as research and enforcement activities. The report is designed to…